Professional dancer Aljaž Škorjanec is set to make a grand return to “Strictly Come Dancing” this autumn after a two-year hiatus.
The Slovenian talent will join 14 other professionals to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the beloved show. Expressing his excitement, the 34-year-old dancer shared, “I’m ecstatic to be back. I had an absolute ball during my nine-year stint on Strictly.
During my time away, I became a parent, which has been an exciting challenge in itself, and now I’m ready to experience the Strictly magic again.
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It feels so right to be coming back. I missed the fun, glitter, and the judges of course, and I hope to make my daughter Lyra proud!”
Škorjanec and his wife, Janette Manrara, who also graced the Strictly stage as a professional dancer for eight series, welcomed their first child, Lyra, in July 2023.
The couple, married since 2017, has openly shared their journey to parenthood, revealing they were “on the verge of IVF” when “in the middle of the process, she kind of came along.”
Manrara celebrated her husband’s return by sharing a heartwarming photo of Škorjanec with their daughter on Instagram, captioning it, “We started our @bbcstrictly journey together back in 2013, and now for the 20th-year anniversary, we’ll both be back on your screens once again! I am so happy the country gets to enjoy the smiliest man in showbiz once again.” Manrara is also making her return to the Strictly family as one of the hosts of the spin-off show, “It Takes Two.”
Škorjanec is a highly decorated dancer, boasting 19 championships in Ballroom, Latin, and Ten Dance. He made a sensational debut on “Strictly Come Dancing” in 2013, winning the Glitterball trophy with his celebrity partner, Abbey Clancy. In 2017, he achieved runner-up status with Gemma Atkinson. His other notable partners on the show have included model Daisy Lowe, “Call the Midwife” actress Helen George, and “Dragon’s Den” star Sara Davies.
Strictly’s executive producer, Sarah James, expressed her enthusiasm about Škorjanec’s return, stating, “Everyone is so thrilled that Aljaž is returning. During his nine series, he was a firm favorite with viewers across the country. I’m sure everyone is in for a treat as he joins us to entertain the nation for a very special 20th year of the show.”
